Carolyne Aarsen - Laura Abbot
Aarsen, Carolyne - COWBOY'S BRIDE, THE (Steeple Hill,
Love Inspired - 1999) (4)
When people in the small Canadian town of Wakely look at Joe Brewer, they see a personable, handsome young man who has a way with horses...and, so it appears, a way with the town's entire
female population. They've known the truck-driving high school dropout his whole life and, while Joe is a hard worker, almost
no one expects to see him rise above the harshness and poverty
of his past.
When these same folks look at newcomer Rebecca Stevenson, her demeanor, expensive clothes, and place in one of the town's elite families puts her in a completely different category. She might walk with a limp and work every day in her brother-in-law's bank, but this classy miss clearly has never had any real troubles in her entire privileged life.
It is inconceivable to concerned family and friends that Joe and Rebecca could possibly have anything in common; but could God perceive something else when He looks at them? Perhaps He sees two emotionally needy people who, if given the chance, will have their soul-deep, empty places filled by each other. Does He see a couple who will find something infinitely more precious in the process—a deeper, more abiding relationship with Him?
The books I've read from the Love Inspired line have all been enjoyable and full of meaning, but THE COWBOY'S BRIDE is very special in this regard. Carolyne Aarsen has used her creativity and imagination to spin a sweet and engrossing tale of love, forgiveness, and commitment. The characters have to deal with difficult, real-life issues that are quite common to most of us, and the fact that the story is overlaid with nuances of a loving Creator's willing involvement makes it even more meaningful. ~Connie Ramsdell for Bookbug on the Web
Abbot, Laura - TRIAL COURTSHIP (Harl. Super. 843) (4)
Set primarily in northern Ohio, this contemporary romance is filled with believable characters and places evocative of America's heartland.
Tony Urbanski is a man driven by ambition and the need to overcome rather formidable shadows that lurk in his past. Because he is currently spending every available minute enmeshed in crucial merger negotiations for his company, the arrival of a summons for jury duty couldn't have come at a worse time. He is an expert at wheeling and dealing, but when faced with a rather unsympathetic judge who has heard every excuse in the book, Tony's bid for postponement of services is quickly denied.
When Andrea Evans receives her notice for jury duty, she also has compelling reasons for opting out of the obligation, but unlike Tony, she takes the call very seriously. Even though running a successful business and parenting her orphaned nine-year-old nephew, Nick, leaves little free time for anything that remotely resembles a social life, the bright, beautiful Andrea feels compelled to do her civic duty.
Tony and Andrea are assigned to the same murder trial, and it doesn't appear they have much common ground for anything more than a superficial relationship. As the days count down, however, neither one can deny the intense reaction that springs up whenever they're together. Even the risk of censure for meeting outside the confines of the jury room, and their own acknowledgment of the differences in their lifestyles and commitments, can't stop a sensually charged relationship from developing between these two emotionally needy people. In the end, Tony finds self-acceptance and a place in a real family; and Andrea discovers the meaning of true love, while learning how to let other people share some of her burdens.
Since my roots are in the Midwest, I easily identified with the settings and characterizations found in TRIAL COURTSHIP. As a result, this story evoked more than a little nostalgia for me. There were no exotic locales or jet-setting celebrities to be found, just believable, well-written glimpses into a small slice of Midwestern American life. The more impersonal aspects of the story that dealt with trials, juries and the judicial system were nicely balanced by the development of a love story that, in the end, redeemed many more lives than those of just the hero and heroine. If a look behind the scenes at a jury trial and a slowly developing but sweet love story are appealing to you, TRIAL COURTSHIP may be the perfect reading choice. ~Connie Ramsdell for Bookbug on the Web
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